Circuit continuing device



Oct. 16, 1956 s. KlLLlAN ET Al. 2,767,383

CIRCUIT CONTINUING DEVICE Filed Jan. 4, 1954 INVENTRS. fav/ig zZZz'd/r.

@E MQIZW/w United States Patent O" CIRCUIT CONTINUING DEVICE Stanley Killian and Jasper Long, Sturgis, Mich., assiguors to Wate Electric Products Co., Sturgis, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application January 4, 1954, serial No. 402,100 14 claims. (C1. sas- 198) This invention relates to electrical connection means and, more particularly, to an improved electric-al connection means or junction block which is capable of releas. ably connecting a plurality of conductor terminals se.- curely together in a minimum of time, and which cannot be accidentally disengaged.

i In many instances where excessive vibration is present and electrical connection means are employed, as for example on aircraft and the like, conventional terminal type line connectors may not be satisfactory since vibration sometimes causes such type terminal connectors to become disengaged. Accordingly, there is a present need forV a connection means `adapted to function with the speed of a snap-in terminal type line connector but which is not susceptible to disengagement by vibration or the like. The principal object of this invention, therefore, is to provide an improved electrical connection means which is adapted to connect a plurality of conductor terminals in a minimum of time, securely together, so as to -resist any accidental Idisengaging fonces and, which func.- tions to permit the terminals to be easily and quickly disconnected when the need thereof arises. t

' The present invention provides a multiple unit junction block or connection means comprising, an elongated base having an upwardly extending integral housing thereon, which is provided with a plurality of spaced, vertically disposed apertures therethrough. The upper end of each aperture is partially enclosed by a plurality of horizontally disposed projections which are spaced apart so as to provide a cross-shaped opening into the aperture. One portion of the cross-shaped opening is disposed transversely in the housing and is substantially wider than the other portion which is disposed longitudinally in the housing. The vertical apertures are each provided with a downwardly extending opening or slot along each transverse side thereof, which is substantially the same width as the transverse portion of the cross-shaped opening in the top of the aperture land is connected thereto. Slidably mounted in each aperture is a tubular piston which'is open on the lower end and provided with a reduced opening in the upper end thereof. A detent is slidably mounted within the tubular piston and is provided with a reduced portion adapted to project through said reduced opening in the upper end of the piston. A resilient biasing means is provided in each vertical aperture and is adapted to have its upper end abut the detent so as to bias the detent and piston upwardly. The lower ends of all the resilient biasing means areretained in the 4vertical apertures by` an easily 'and quickly detachable longitudinal base plate. Each aperture is adapted to receive therein a plurality of conductor terminals which are provided with an aperture therein adapted to receive the reduced portion of the resiliently biased detent, and to securely but releasably hold the terminals in the aperture between the horizontal projections and the upper face of the tubular piston. The conductor terminals are inserted into the apertures through the cross-shaped openings.

' Other objects, features, and advantages of the' present 2,767,383 Patented Oct. 16, 1956 invention will become -apparent from the following de-Y scription taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherem:

Figure l is an elevational View of a multiple unit connection means made in accordance with the principles of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational sectional View` taken through one of the connector units of the structure illustrated in Fig. l and showing the procedure for inserting a conductor terminal in the connector units;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the multiple unit connection means illustrated in Fig. l; i

Fig. 4 is an elevational sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 3, taken along the line 4 4 thereof;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View of the structure illustrated in Fig. l, taken `along the line 5-5, without showing the pistons and detents;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of the structure of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow 6;

Fig. 7 is an elevational sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 3, taken along the line 7-7 thereof;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevational sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 3, taken along the line 8*-8 thereof.

Referring now to the drawings and, more particularly, to Figs. l through 3, the illustrative connection means or junction block comprises a substantially rectangular base lll on which is carried an integral housing 12. The ends of the base 10 are rounded as at 13 and are provided with an aperture as 15, `adapted to receive a screw or the like for hold down purposes. The base 10 and housing 12 are preferably formed from an insulative material by any suitable molding process and, as will be apparent hereinafter, they are designed so that only a simple mold is required. The housing 12 is provided with a plurality of vertical cylindrical bores or apertures 14, which are open at the lower end and partially enclosed `at the upper end thereof by a plurality of horizontal projections 16. The horizontal projections 16 are disposed so as to form a cross-shaped opening into each aperture 14 which opening comprises a longitudinal portion 17 and a transverse portion 18 which is substanitally wider than the longitudinal portion 17. Each of the vertical apertures 14 is provided with a vertical slot or opening 19 on each side thereof, which .connects with the transverse portion 18 of the cross-shaped opening and extends downwardly j approximately half the height of the aperture 14. The longitudinal opening 17 is of about the same size as a cross section through the head 20 of terminal 21 and permits insertion of the head 20 into an aperture 14. The vertical slots 19 are of about the same width as the neck 22 of the terminal 21 and open out of the side of the block from the bore 14 so as to permit the terminal 21 to be moved in a vertical plane transverse to the block after it has been inserted in slot 17 Slidably mounted in each of the apertures 14 is a tubular piston 24 which is open at the lower end 25 and which is provided with a reduced opening 26? in the upper end thereof. A detent 28 is slidably mounted inside of each piston and is provided with a base 30 and an upwardly extending reduced portion 32, which is adapted to extend upwardly through the reduced piston opening 26. The detents 28 as well as pistons 24 are biased upwardly by :coil springs 34, the upper ends of which abut the detent bases 30 and the lower ends of which abut a removable longitudinal retainer base plate 36.

As is best seen in Figs. 6 through 8, the base 10 of the junction block is provided with a longitudinally d is posed rectangular recess 38 which communicates with all of the vertical apertures 114. The removable longitudinal retainer base plate 36 -is seated in the recess 3-8 to provide a `backing member for the lower ends of the coil springs 34, as aforementioned. The longitudinal recess 318 is provided with a plurality of vertical ribs 40y extending inwardly from the lower surface of the base and adapted to hold the retainer plate 36 in place in the ibase, between the shoulders 42 of the ribs and the upper surface 44 ofthe recess 3'8. In order to insert the retainer plate 36 between the shoulders 42 of the ribs 40, and the upper surface 44 of the recess 38, the retainer plate 3.6; is provided with cutouts or reliefs as at 46 which are shaped similar to the cross-section of ribs 4t). The retainer plate 36: is assembled into a locking engagement with the ribs 4,0 by rst placing the plate in the recess` 33 so as to have the reliefs 46 register with the ribs 40. The retainer plate 36 is then moved upwardly until it abuts the upper surtace 44 of the longitudinal recess I38, at which point the retainer plate is then slid longitudinally to the right, as viewed in Fig. 8, so as to position the plate on they rib shoulders 42 and accordingly lock the plate. in place. To prevent the retainer plate 36 yfrom accidentally moving oi of the rib shoulders 42, a transverse ridge, as 47, may be provided across the upper surface `44` of the longitudinal recess 3,8 to lock the retainer plate '36 in the longitudinal direction. The retainer plate 3.6. may be. made of any suitable insulative material. An important feature of the invention lies in the ease with which the integral base and housing 10, `12 may be molded from suitable insulative material such as Bakelite. The ribs 40 and their shoulders 42 may be formed during the molding process in a simple mold having la plurality of core pins extend-ing downwardly along the outer sides vof the 'housing 12 so as to detine the rounded vertical slots 48 (the bottoms of which are the shoulders I42) and also having an upwardly extending core piecey to. form the rectangular llongitudinal recess 3.8V with the inwardly extendings ribs 40.

Each of the connector units in the illustrative junction block is adapted to receive a plurality of the cond-uctor terminals 21 which `are provided with means for `securing` an electrical conductor as `52 in one end thereof and which, in the illustrated form, are provided on the other endy thereof with a flat circula-r terminal head as hav- -ing an aperture. 156 therethrough. The detents 28 are adapted to `slidably engage the apertures 56 in the terminal heads 20 to coact with the horizontal projections 16A in preventing the conductor terminals 21 from being accidentally jarred out `of the vertical. apertures 14 unless the detents are purposely depressed.

TheV method of assembling the conductor terminals 21 -into the vertical apertures 14 may be understood by especially considering Figs. 2 through 4. The conductor terminal 21 is rirst disposed in a vertical plane and moved downwardly into. the longitudinal opening 17 of one of the axial recesses 14 with the terminal head 20 abutting and depressing the detent 28 as indicatedl at numeral 57. The downward movement of the conductor terminal 2'1 is continued until the circular terminal head '20 is below the inner curved surfaces 58 of the horizontal projections 16. -At that point, the conductor terminal 21 is pivoted in the direction shown Iby the` ar-row in Fig. 2, down to .a horizontal position, ywith the terminal neck '22 slidably engaging the transverse aperture 18. It will be appreciated that as the conductor terminal 21 is rotated tothe horizontal position, the coil spring 3-4 will bias the `detent \2'8 upwardly into the terminal head aperture. 546, `and then carry the piston V24 upwardly against the terminal head 20, to move the terminal head 20 into an abutting and lloc-king engagement with the horizontal projections 116.

=It will be. appreciated thatl the principies of the invention may be applied to produce junction blocks having-any desired number of connection units therein, and that the iive unit embodiment lshown was merely used toillustrate the invention. It will be fnrther .appreciated that the vertical. apertures 1,14. and. the 'Circular'. terminal head-s 20 may be shaped as desired, as for example they may be. square or oval shaped.

While it is :apparent that the principles of the invention are well calculated to fultil'l the objects above stated, it will be understood the invention is lsubject to modification, variation and change without departing trom the proper spirit or scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

il. In an yelectr-ical connection means for conductor terminals, the combination of, a hou-sing hav-ing an aper-` ture therein with a terminal receiving opening, a tirst means on said housing operable to. iixedly but partially enclose said opening so that it is smaller than said aperture but providing forinsertion or removal of terminals from 'said aperture, and a second means operatively mounted in said aperture adapted to resiliently bias said conductor terminals securely together against .said tirst means.

2. In an electrical connection means for conductor terminals, the combination of, a housing having an raperture therein with a reduced size terminal receiving opening and a downwardly presenting shoulder in the aperture. around' the opening, a member slidably mounted in said aperture, and a resilient biasing means in said aperturey adapted to bias said member upwardlyY toward said shoulder to hold conductorterminals therebetween.

3. In an electrical connection means, the combination of, a housing having an aperture therethrough, a trst means on Isaid housing operable to partially enclose one yend of said aperture. while .permitting a plurality of conductor terminals to be inserted into said aperture, a tubular member slidably mounted in 'said aperture and provided with .a reduced opening in one end thereof, a second means slidablymounted in said tubular member and having a projectingportion adapted to extend through said reduced opening, a resilient biasing means in said aperture Aadapted tobias said second means toward said iirst means to hold said plurality of conductor terminals between said member and said iirstmeans with said projecting portion engaging a matching aperture in each of said terminals, and a plate operatively secured to said housing and enclosing the other end of said aperture .adapted to provide. a support for said resilient biasing means.

4. In `an electrical connection means, the combination of, `a housing having an aperture therein, a plurality of projectionsv on said housing extending over said `aperture forming a cross-shaped opening into said aperture through which a plurality of Iconductor terminals may be inserted, said; housing being provided with slots disposed parallel tov 'said aperture` and communicating therewith and. with one of the portions of said cross-shaped opening, said slots coacting with said cross-shaped opening to permit said conductor terminals to he inserted into said aperture, and a means operatively mounted in 'saidr aperture. to resiliently biassaid conductor terminals against .said projections.

5; In4 an4 electrical connection means, the combination of, a housing having. an aperture therein, a plurality of projections on said housing extending. over said aperture forming a cross-shaped opening into said aperture through which a pluralityof conductor terminals` may be inserted', said housing being provided with slots disposed parallel to` said aperture and communicating therewith andl with one off the portions of` said cross-shaped opening, said lotscoacting: with said cross-shaped opening to permitsaid conductor terminals to be inserted into said aperture, a. member slidabl-y mounted in said. aperture, and a resilient biasing means in said aperture. adapted to bias saidl member towardv saidv projections to hold said con d-uctor terminals4 therebetween.

6'. In an electrical connection means, the combination of, a housing having a n aperture therein, a pluljality of projections. Oil Said. bassins, extending over said aperture interina a crqssfshaned opening into Said aperture through which a plurality of conductor terminals may be inserted, said housing being provided with slots disposed parallel to said aperture and communicating therewith and with one of the portions of said cross-shaped opening, said slots coacting with said cross-shaped opening to permit said conductor terminals to be inserted into said aperture, a tubular member slidably mounted in said aperture and provided with aV reduced opening in one end thereof, a detent slidably mounted in said tubular member and having a projecting portion adapted to extend through said reduced opening, and a resilient biasing means in said aperture operative to bias said detent and tubular member toward said projections to hold said plurality of conductor terminals between said member and said projections with said projecting portion adapted to engage a matching aperture in each of said terminals.

7. In an electrical connection means, the combination of, a housing having an apelture therein, a plurality of projections on said housing extending over said aperture forming a cross-shaped opening into said aperture through which a plurality of conductor terminals may be inserted, said housing being provided with slots disposed parallel to said aperture and communicating therewith and with one ot the portions of said cross-shaped opening, said slots coacting with said cross-shaped opening to permit said conductor terminals to be inserted into said aperture, a piston slidably mounted in said aperture, said piston being hol low and having one end open and the other end partially enclosed to form a reduced opening, a detent slidably mounted in said piston and being provided with a reduced portion adapted to project through said reduced opening, a spring means in said aperture adapted to abut said detent and bias said piston toward said projections to hold said plurality of conductor terminals between the piston and said projections with the reduced portion of the detent engaging a matching aperture in each of said termi-- nals.

8. An electrical connection means comprising, a base, a housing on said base, a plurality of spaced apertures in said housing, a longitudinal recess in said base communicating with the lower ends of said apertures, the upper ends of said apertures being partially enclosed by a plurality of horizontally disposed projections arranged to form a cross-shaped opening through which conductor terminals may be inserted, said cross-shaped opening comprising a longitudinal opening and a transverse opening substantially larger than said longitudinal opening, said housing being provided with transverse slots extending downwardly from the upper surface thereof and which connect with said apertures and with said transverse opening, a hollow piston slidably mounted in each of said apertures, the upper end of each of said pistons being partially enclosed to form a reduced opening, a detent slidably carried in each of said reduced openings, a resilient biasing means in each aperture adapted to abut the detent therein to bias said detent and piston upwardly to hold said conductor terminals against said horizontally disposed projections, and a retaining meas releasably locked in said recess and adapted to retain said resilient biasing means in each of said apertures.

9. An electrical connection means comprising, a base, a housing on said base, a plurality of spaced apertures in said housing, a longitudinal recess in said base communieating with the lower ends of said apertures, the upper ends of said apertures being partially enclosed by a plurality of horizontally disposed projections arranged to form a cross-shaped opening through which conductor terminals may be inserted, said crossshaped opening comprising a longitudinal opening and a transverse opening substantially larger than said longitudinal opening, said housing being provided with transverse slots extending downwardly from the upper surface thereof and which connect with said apertures and with said transverse opening, a member slidably mounted in each of said apertures, a resilient biasing means in each of said apertures adapted to bias said member toward said projections to hold said conductor terminals therebetween, and a retainingmeans releasably locked in said recess and adapted to retain said resilient biasing means in each of said apertures.

l0. A molded junction block comprising, a horizontal base, a housing on said base, a plurality of spaced vertical apertures in said housing adapted to receive separate resilient biasing means therein, a longitudinal recess in said base communicating with the lower ends of said apertures, the upper ends of said apertures being partially enclosed by a plurality of horizontally disposed projections arranged to torni a cross-shaped openingthrough which conductor terminals may be inserted and held against said projections by said resilient biasing means, a plurality of elongated vertical slots in the outer longitudinal surfaces of said housing extending down into said base and said recess, a plurality of longitudinally spaced projections on said base extending transversely into said recess, said projections extending upwardly in said recess with the upper ends thereof forming part of the lower end of said slots and providing shoulders on both sides of said recess, whereby said shoulders may slidably receive a retaining member for holding the resilient biasing means in said apertures.

l1. In an electrical connection means, the combination of a blade-type conductor terminal having a conductor rcceiving neck, a base, a housing on said base, an aperture in said housing, the upper end of said aperture being partially enclosed by a plurality of projections disposed to form an opening through which said conductor terminal may be inserted, said opening comprising a longitudinal and a transverse opening, said longitudinal opening being of substantially the same size as a cross section through the blade of said terminal, said transverse opening being of substantially the same width as the neck of said terminal and extending downwardly along the length ot the aperture to a substantial distance below said projections, whereby said conductor terminal may be inserted into said aperture by holding it in the vertical plane and inserting the blade thereof through said longitudinal opening into said aperture and, then pivoting the neck of said terminal downwardly into said transverse opening and into a horizontal position with the terminal blade being pivoted in said aperture and positioned beneath said projections.

l2. Ain electrical connection means comprising, a base, a housing on said base, 4'a plurality of spaced apertures in said housing, a longitudinal recess in said base 'come munioating with Ithe zlower ends of :said apertures, tthe upper ends of said apertures being partially lenclosed by a plurality of horizontally disposed pmojections arranged to form a reduced 'opening thnough which conductor termay be insented, a member slidably mounted in each .of said apertures, a resilient biasing means lin .eac-h lof said apertures adapted to 'bias said member toward said projections to l old said conductor terminals therebetween, a plate slidably mounted in said recess radaptoi to retain the resilient biasing means in each. of said rapertures, and -a ridge in said recess depending from the upper surface thereof adapted Ito releasa'bly lock said piate fin said recess.

13. An electrical connection means comprising, `a hase, a housing Ion said base, la plurality of spaced apertures in sali-d housing, la 'longitudinal recess in said base cornmunicating with the lower ends of said apertures, the upper ends :of Isaid apertures being partially enclosed by a plurality of horizontally disposed projections 'arranged Ito form a reduced opening through which conductor terminals may be inserted, sa member :slidably mounted in each of said apertures, =a resilient biasing means in each of said apertures :adapted yto bias said members toward said projections to hold said conductor terminals therebetween, ia plurality of longitudinally spaced projections on :said base extending transversely into said recess, said projections extend-ing upwardly in said recess width ithe upper ends thereof being spaced from the upper surface of said recess, Ithe upper surface of said upper ends form- 7 igg a 'Ima [9i LQngiftudinally ys-pad shoulders ofn ach side References Cited in the le of this patent 9i; Said. 'and a plate slidably @muted on said UNITED STATES PATENTS :shoulders and adapt-ed to Aretain the mesi'lient biasing means 14. The Iinvention set forth in lcljazim 13 wherein rsaild 5 Mc Oughhn et al 'i i Qct '0 1944 hof'izonitaflly disposed pnojeotions are accessible lalong FOREIGN PATENTS stnaight lines `extending through Theil" spective open- 232,197 Great Britain Mar. 25, 1926 ings and Isaid umass, :said housiing having `slot's formed OTHER REFERENCES therein iopemng out lof the iop theneof land amending down 10 als far ias possible toward said shoulders `and in stnaight lines, regspectively with said Shoulders.

Genenal Electric Review, August 1951. Full-prag@ `adventiisemenlt [of the Penn-Union Electric Corp., Erie, Pa., appearing `on page 9. 

